Michigan’s Airport Infrastructure Getting Facelift
Looks like several airports in Michigan are about to get a major infrastructure facelift. According to Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, six airports in Michigan are poised to receive federal grant dollars to fund construction and rehabilitation projects. On Monday Secretary Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration Program (FAAP) would be awarding, $986 million in airport infrastructure grants to six airports in Michigan. This latest round of funding is the fifth allotment of such grants being given to airports all over the country through the Airport Improvement Program, with a price tag of $3.18 billion dollars.
According to U.S Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao: “This significant investment in airport improvements in Michigan will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation.”
Six different airports will benefit from these airport infrastructure grants. Those airports will include Detroit Metropolitan Airport which will receive $12.38 million for taxiway reconstruction. Sawyer International Airport in Gwinn will receive $1.1 million for building expansion and utility construction, the second-largest amount being awarded.
In addition, The Detroit Willow Run Airport will receive $403,157 to obtain new snowplow equipment, and Delta County Airport in Escanaba will get $862,272 for taxiway rehab. This will include new taxiway lighting, as well as an emergency generator, and a rescue and fire fighting vehicle. Pellston Regional Airport in Emmet County will get $43,980 for the removal of non-hazardous obstructions, and Muskegon County Airport will get $300,000 for an emergency generator and an airport study.
In addition to the funding being allocated for these specific airports, The FAA is giving $24.54 million to the Michigan State Block Grant Program to be used at various projects at non-primary Michigan airports.
These improvements are part of a larger move by the FAA who will award similar grants to 354 airports located within 44 U.S states as well as Micronesia and Puerto Rico, in an effort to improve airport infrastructure to ensure safety and capacity, as well as to stimulate economic growth throughout the nation.